By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Monday, June 22, Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) said that walking away from a bad deal is probably the best option for the US in the ongoing nuclear talks with the government of Iran.
US Representative Roby wrote in a statement on Facebook, “Today is June 22nd. That means the deadline for parties negotiating an Iran nuclear deal is eight days away. This group in Switzerland seems to be racing to broker a deal, and I believe Americans should be concerned.”
Rep. Roby continued, “Secretary Kerry and his negotiators have already conceded so much that I’m not confident a good deal is even possible at this point. Let’s not forget how high the stakes are here. If we agree to a bad deal, we aren’t just talking about a nuclear Iran, we’re talking about setting in motion a chain of events that could lead to multiple countries in this very volatile region wanting to become nuclear as well.”
The conservative Alabama Congresswoman said, “As you know, a few months ago I traveled to the Middle East and visited the countries that would be directly dealing with a nuclear Iran: Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia. These are our allies and they are VERY concerned that what is being brokered isn’t good at all.”
Rep. Roby wrote. “Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker has raised his concerns about the plans. I agree with Senator Corker that walking away from a bad deal is the better option at this point. In any case, I’m glad Congress will have the final say over whether or not to lift sanctions on Iran. We can’t allow President Obama and Secretary Kerry’s desire for a “legacy” for themselves to trump what’s in the best interests of the United States and our allies.”
The deal’s prospects got dimmer on Sunday when the Iranian Parliament voted 119 to 14 to ban international inspectors at Iranian military sites. Sources are predicting that rather than walk out of the negotiations that the Obama Administration will just extend the deadline further.
Congress has the final say over any nuclear deal that President Barack H. Obama might sign after President Obama signed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 into law.
Senator Corker (R-Tennessee) wrote, “After more than a year of bipartisan work and a veto threat from the White House, I am pleased to see this bill become law so that any final nuclear agreement with Iran will have to go through Congress where the American people will have a say and lawmakers will have a vote. I appreciate the strong bipartisan support for this effort that demonstrates Congress’s determination to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. With the role of Congress now guaranteed, the administration must address the many significant concerns raised by Congress, and our negotiators should take advantage of the added leverage to force further concessions from the Iranians so that any agreement reached is verifiable, enforceable and can assure the American people Iran will not be able to develop a nuclear weapon.”
The legislation passed the Senate 98 to 1 and the House of Representatives 400 to 25.
Under the terms of the law, the President can not lift the sanctions on Iran without Congress voting for it.
Congresswoman Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
